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Edmonton, Canada -- EPCOR and the Government of British Columbia have opened the Britannia Mine Water Treatment Facility, which is ending contamination from one of North America's largest sources of heavy metal pollution.
The new facility will prevent thousands of tonnes of heavy metal contaminants from entering the ocean environment of Howe Sound, including 166,000 kilograms of copper per year - the equivalent of 70 million pennies. Located on B.C.'s Sea-to-Sky highway, 55 kilometres north of Vancouver, the treatment facility was completed on-time and on-budget.
The Britannia Mine operated for over 70 years. Exposure of the mine's excavations to air and water resulted in acid rock drainage, a mild sulphuric acid solution that leached heavy metals from the mine. Rain and snow-melt carried these contaminants into Howe Sound, causing serious environmental damage to a large area of the ocean environment below the mine. The Britannia Mine Water Treatment Facility is now treating an average of 12 million litres of water per day, removing heavy metals including, aluminum, cadmium, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc.
"Today is World Environment Day and I can think of no better way to celebrate as the Province, in partnership with EPCOR, moves one step closer to reaching its goal of being the world leader in sustainable environmental management with the best air and water quality and the best fisheries management bar none," said Minister of Agriculture and Lands Pat Bell. "Not only did the EPCOR-led team deliver an effective environmental solution, this unique partnership protected B.C. taxpayers from the cost-increases common in today's construction industry."
EPCOR financed the project and led an expert team during the design and construction of the $15.5 million facility. This team included Stantec, Lockerbie Stanley Inc., Canadian Environmental and Metallurgical Inc., and BioteQ. As part of the agreement, EPCOR will operate the facility for 20 years.
"EPCOR is applying 100 years of water treatment expertise to the Britannia Water Treatment Plant, and our expertise at working with public and private partners," said Dr. Steve Stanley, Senior Vice President of EPCOR Water Services. "The same commitment that allowed us to construct the plant on-time and on-budget will now be directed toward achieving our performance standards and restoring environment in the Britannia area."
EPCOR Utilities Inc. builds, owns and operates power plants, electrical transmission and distribution networks, water and wastewater treatment facilities and infrastructure in Alberta, Ontario/U.S Northeast, and British Columbia/U.S. Pacific Northwest.
Web site: http://www.epcor.ca/
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